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A church and strip club bonded. Now they're tearing down the club, for community space

“Sometimes that comes through ministry," said Preston Tippen, the lead pastor, "and sometimes through purchasing a strip club."

North Ridge is closing a deal on the land where the Rear End tavern and strip club used to sit. The former club owner and church members now are working together to clear out the property and find a use for the community.

The deal evolved from a connection between the church and the former strip club owner — women from North Ridge had already formed lasting relationships with the dancers when the club was in business. But the decision to close and sell the Rear End also came just a few years after the owner won a legal battle with the city to keep the strip club open.

Around 60 congregation members came together Saturday for a work day to start demolition on the building and clear out the plot of land. Despite outdoor risks from skunks and wasps, trees were felled and bar walls torn to their innards. From tall bulldozers to small tractors, the crew came prepared.

Even children were around to help with the weeds.

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North Ridge Church congregation members help clear out and organize debris from Saturday's partial demolition of the former Rear End bar and strip club.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Megan Stringer)

The church doesn't have any specific plans for the space yet, Tippen said. The first step is to begin work and see what follows, he said, but "the ultimate goal is to do something good for the community on the south side."

One of the first plans to consider is moving North Ridge Church from its current home on the north side of Marshfield. The renovation would certainly mean more space for the roughly 600-member and growing congregation, but it would also mean relocating their community outreach to the other side of town.

Once church leaders decide whether the move is a good idea, there are countless other options to explore for the land use, Tippen said. It could be a park with pavilions, or any other neighborhood space the rest of Marshfield could use.

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Lead Pastor Preston Tippen of North Ridge Church works from a dump truck on the site of the former Rear End bar and strip club.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Megan Stringer)

"I’m all for bringing something to the south side of Marshfield," said J.D. Koran, former Rear End owner. "It’s very underused and underappreciated.”

Koran said he wants to see something come of the land for future generations, including for his own family. He was around to help clear the property on Saturday.

The Rear End bar was a family business for 35 years before it closed on April 1. Koran's father started the club, and the bar was long known in the community. Koran said some dancers worked there for 30 years.

“Anybody was welcome," he said. "You don’t get to see that in a lot of places."

Koran said selling the land to the church was a natural move, and that North Ridge had first dibs on the property. The two groups had long been familiar with each other from a program called Sweet Treats started by a group of women at North Ridge in 2012.

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North Ridge Church congregation members clear out trees and weeds on the 17-acre property where the former Rear End bar and strip club sits.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Megan Stringer)

A handful of women from the church would visit the women at the Rear End club before their work evening, to bring them homemade desserts and strike up conversation.

"We would just go in and be friends to these ladies. Talk about our families, expecting nothing in return," said Cari Hafermann, church member and Sweet Treats program co-leader. "It’s important they know people care."

Koran supported the visits, and Hafermann said the women looked forward to seeing them every week for just 15 to 30 minutes.

"It became a very popular thing with the dancers. Something so simple meant so much," Koran said. "They had no agenda, they weren’t trying to change things. They were just there for them."

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Removing walls from the former Rear End bar and strip club.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Megan Stringer)

The Sweet Treats women have stayed in touch with Rear End's former employees, they said, and are working to find new employment for those who are interested, and to support the women in whatever ways they might need.

“It was kind of heartbreaking, mixed feelings when we heard this news" of the strip club closing, Hafermann said.

"This is still their job and livelihood, and I want to be respectful of that," said Liz Gosse, church member and Sweet Treats program co-leader.

Former employees of Rear End were unable to be reached for comment.

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A sign for lap dances in the former Rear End bar and strip club comes down during partial demolition on Saturday.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Megan Stringer)

The women from North Ridge even redecorated the dancers' dressing room with fresh paint and a large new countertop. Hafermann said the women loved it. "I’m telling you, it was spotless still the day they closed," she said.

The property also has a controversial history in Marshfield.

In September 2015, Rear End fought to stay in Marshfield as a strip club. When the city annexed the land from the town of Cameron, the club became subject to a Marshfield ordinance banning nude dancing in bars. Rear End sued the city, arguing the ordinance was unconstitutional. The city eventually paid $52,000 in July 2016 for Rear End to dismiss the case.

Now, Koran said it was just time for the club to close. He said there were no repercussions from his deal with the city, and this decision is unrelated.

"Working together has been a cool relationship," Koran said of Tippen and the North Ridge group. "Maybe it's weird that we can hit it off, but there's no attitudes either way. We all wanted to see something good for the land."